Gnistan and Ekenäs IF played to a draw in the men’s football set on Sunday evening. Spark goalkeeper Jiri Koski kept a clean sheet for the fourth time this season.
The match, which was played on artificial turf in Åggelby, ended 0–0.
Both teams invested in safe defensive play, which meant that the real scoring chances were few.
– This is what the game looks like when two top teams play against each other. It was very careful defensive play, said Gnistan’s centre-back Toni Takamäki in Ruutu’s post-match interview.
He was satisfied with the defensive game but had expected a little more going forward.
– We can do better going forward than this, he said.
In the first half, Gnistan created a few more chances than EIF. In the second half, Eero Markkanen had the home team’s best chance. EIF goalkeeper Ramilson Almeida managed to parry the low shot for a corner.
Twenty minutes into the second half, EIF center back Tabi Manga had two opportunities to score. Both times it was Roni Pietsalo who provided the pass, first a free kick from the left, then a corner from the right. The Gnistan defense managed to save Manga’s position to the corner and the Cameroonian’s header on the corner went clear over Gnistan’s goal.
– It was an even match and the game looked much like we had expected. Both teams play pretty evenly. There weren’t many goal chances in this match, said EIF captain William Lindqvist in Ruutu’s interview.
EIF meets SJK Akatemia on Saturday
EIF have won both of their home games in the series. On Saturday (13.5) SJK Akatemia will visit Ekenäs.
– Then we will take three points, promised Lindqvist.
Both teams’ defensive lines played really well. EIF’s Salomo Ojala gets better the more matches he plays with the team. Abdoulaye Kanté and Stanislav Efimov were also in the mood to play.
Salomo Ojala played a good game for his EIF. Archive image.
Image: Patric Westerlund / Yle
soccer players men, soccer, soccer players, Ettan, Ekenäs, Ekenäs IF, Raseborg, Västnyland, Salomo Ojala
In the home team, Jean Mabinda and Mohamed Kamara actively participated in the game. Momodou Sarr caused a lot of worry for the EIF defence.
Pietu Niinimäki refereed his third match in the men’s league and had to explain his decisions several times to upset EIF players. On the whole, Niinimäki coped well with the task. He gave a total of five cautions in the match, two to the home team, three to EIF.
The match protocol is available on the Ball Association’s website.
Over 700 people watched the match among them a loud crowd of EIF fans. Eklöven, as the EIF fans call themselves, bravely cheered on their team throughout the match. They also stayed after the game to sing the praises of the players.
Gnistan meets TPS in Turku on Saturday (13.5).
The Åggelby team continues in the table after four rounds. EIF is fifth. The table is on Yle’s teletext page 244.
Result, man
The spark – EIF 0-0
Public: 723
Jaro – TPS 3-3 (0-0)
60 min Torfiq Ali-Abubakar 0-1, 63 min Roope Pakkanen 0-2, 70 min David Carty 1-2, 81 min Carty 2-2, 88 min Alhaji Gero (str) 2-3, 90+13 min Alex Ramsay 3-3
Public: 773
